Delta Tri-Angle 2014-1

2014 | ISSUE 1
FROM THE
PRESIDENT…
T
he first quarter
has
quickly
come to a close as
we continue to fine
tune our game plan
in order to compete
during these difficult times. We will
make every effort to adhere to our
schedules for maintenance and startups
for operations. I want to thank everyone
at Delta for their effort in 2013. Last
year I talked about finding ways to
contribute beyond past practices. I am
again calling on everyone to embrace
the challenge of excelling in a very
competitive environment. This year I am
asking that everyone assess your level
of
engagement.
(continued on page 4)
IN THIS ISSUE
PAGE 2 – 3
 Safety Initiatives
 Arkansas Continues to Lead
 Delta Days
PAGE 4 – 5
 New Sikeston Plant
 KPMG Audit
 From the President (continued)
 Reduce Energy Consumption
 Southern Illinois Stone Successful
PAGE 6 – 7
 Williamsville Stone & Dexter Sand
 SEMO Stone
 401K
 Employee News
 Bruno Jinks
PAGE 8
 Gold Level in Safety
 Transportation Day
 Birthdays
TRANSPORTATION FUNDING
President Dwight D. Eisenhower approved the Federal-Aid Highway Act
in 1956, which created the Interstate Highway System. An “interstate” is
a highway with two or more lanes in each direction and no traffic signals
or stop signs. Vehicles enter or leave interstates at various points known
as interchange exits. Most exits have ramps, which allow drivers either to
accelerate or decelerate.
There are approximately 46,722 miles of interstates. We are most interested
in the 1,180 miles in Missouri; 2,169 miles in Illinois; 656 miles in Arkansas;
and 3,234 miles in Texas. These miles are center line miles, not lane miles.
As you know, interstates can be two, four, six, or more lanes wide.
Although interstates generally are built and maintained by the states in which they are located, the federal
government provides the majority of the money used for construction and maintenance. The federal
government also provides funding for non-interstate projects in every state. On average, federal funds
provide 52% of annual State DOT capital outlays for highway and bridge projects, according to a recent
study by ARTBA (American Road & Transportation Builders Association).
Federal highway reimbursements are primarily used for capital
outlays, such as construction, right-of-way acquisition, and
engineering, but are also used for debt service for GARVEE
bonds. The federal government provides 39% of the total
funding for Illinois; 47% for Texas; 62% for Arkansas;
and 65% for Missouri. As you can see, federal funding is
critical to maintaining our entire transportation system, which
includes interstates, highways, roads, and bridges.
On September 30 of 2014, the federal Moving Ahead for
Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21) will expire. This
is the current federal funding for transportation infrastructure.
Now let’s add to that the impending insolvency of the Highway Trust Fund (HTF) by October of this year.
(Some say the HTF could be out of money as early as August.) Its primary source of revenue is the federal
motor fuels excise tax. The HTF consists of two separate accounts – highway and mass transit. The
highway account receives an allocation equivalent to 15.44 cents of the gasoline tax. The mass transit
account receives the revenue generated by 2.86 cents of the tax. This total rate of 18.3 cents per gallon was
established in 1993 when gas was $1.09 per gallon at the pump. Today, with gas at $3.25 per gallon, the
rate is still 18.3 cents per gallon. It is a flat tax, not linked to inflation. If nothing is done to replenish the funds
into the HTF, then there will be no money for new federal-aid projects in 2015. Projects already under
contract will continue; however, no new projects will be funded.
We do not tell you these things to discourage you. In fact, it is just the opposite! We tell you these things
to encourage you to get involved in preserving our transportation infrastructure. We encourage you
to contact your U.S. Senators and U.S. Congressmen to tell them how important proper funding is, and to
support a robust comprehensive long-term transportation funding solution.
ARTBA President Pete Ruane said we should deliver this simple message to our elected leaders:
“Congressman… Senator… you represent me and my family in Congress. And my job depends on Congress
fixing the Highway Trust Fund before October 1. Please do your job and make sure that happens.”
ARTBA’s toll-free “Grassroots Action Hotline” (888-448-2782) offers a direct connection to members of the
US House of Representatives and the US Senate. All you have to do is provide your home zip code.
If you have questions about how to contact your legislators or what to say, please contact Human Resources
at 573-334-5261.
Delta Companies Inc. 2014 Newsletter | ISSUE 1
1